South Korea and U.S. negotiate timeline for wartime command transfer

During a parliamentary audit, Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said South Korea and the United States are in intensive talks to complete a full operational capability assessment for a combined command that would take over wartime operational control, or OPCON. He added that both sides aim to set a target year for the transfer at the annual Security Consultative Meeting, likely held in December in the United States. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo pressed for a definitive timeline, suggesting Seoul could declare intent to exercise OPCON independently if no agreement is reached.

Kang emphasized that any transfer must rest on mutual trust and noted that Seoul has voiced strong concerns through working-level channels over comments by U.S. Forces Korea commander Xavier Brunson about possible changes to the transfer criteria. While some points have found agreement, differences remain over whether the required conditions for the assessment have been satisfied.